Post airport experience


I am wondering if anyone is experiencing problems after air travel and airport. Recently, usually a day after air travel, I start experiencing irregular heart beats together with difficulty breathing and chest pressure that cause coughing. It usually lasts several hours and mainly at night. I am noticing that is becoming worse. Doctors don't see anything because usually everything is ok in the office. If I don't travel, this is not happening. I often travel for work and now see a pattern. I am careful at airports with security, and I am not dependent on my pacemaker. I would appreciate to hear your feedback.
Thank you.

3 Comments

Air Travel Problems

by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-05 12:09:55

The environment inside an aircraft isn't the best. A lot depends on how the pilot adjusts the cabin air. Less fresh air that needs to be heated saves fuel consumption, but builds up more contaminants. Cabin air is also very dry which is a function of compressing and heating high altitude air. That can have an irritating effect on your lungs. That would explain the coughing, chest pressure and difficulty breathing. Problems with breathing can also affect heart rhythm .

frank

One thing to add to Frank

by PacerRep - 2012-09-06 12:09:10

Frank is spot on, the only thing I would add is at what the cabin pressure is set at. If the air is thin then you are breathing in less oxygen, less oxygen in people with heart conditions can cause ischemia (lack of O2). An ischemic heart is not a happy heart, extra beats are very likely. Although It should not take you a week to recover, but we are all different

Stress??

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-09-06 12:09:58

The added stress of air travel (both physical AND mental) may be causing arrythmias like PACS and afib. Afib tends to disapear just about the time you get to the ER or Doctors office in early stages. PACS with me just happen for a couple of beats and disappear. Neither are horibly serious unless they keep going like the energizer bunny. When they are actually happening, I feel a little crappy, don't have much energy, and can tell my ticker just isn't beating right. Lucky for me, my PM resolved mine. My doctor warned me that often, afib will return later and have to be medicated or ablated. But they don't worry about it until it becomes chronic.

Just tell them how much you're having it and let them decide when it's time to do more.

Good luck - Dave

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is intact and working great.